Brendon Burns

Smith prodded by his colleagues to ‘wake up’

Environment Minister Nick Smith has taken five weeks to wake up to his responsibility to intervene in the Mackenzie Basin factory farming consents debacle, says Labour water spokesperson Brendon Burns.

Cabinet split won’t help stop factory farming in Mackenzie country

Cabinet divisions over how to deal with factory farming consents in the MacKenzie country may prevent the sort of the Government intervention that is required, says Labour’s water spokesman Brendon Burns.

Government slap in face for our top Games athletes

Prime Minister John Key and Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman must explain why they consider our elite Commonwealth Games athletes less worthy of media coverage than All Blacks, says Labour Broadcasting spokesperson Brendon Burns.

Minister’s intervention welcomed but Cabinet should go further

The decision of the Environment Minister Nick Smith to intervene in the factory dairy farming resource consents in the Mackenzie Basin has been welcomed by Labour water spokesperson Brendon Burns.

Smith asked to consider calling in Mackenzie Basin factory farming resource consents

Environment Minister Nick Smith has been asked by Environment Canterbury if he wants
to call in the resource consents for factory dairy farming operations in the Mackenzie Basin, says Labour water spokesperson Brendon Burns.

Auditor-General’s bark but not bite finding

A finding by the Auditor General against four Environment Canterbury councillors has been welcomed by Labour’s water spokesman Brendon Burns who laid the complaint.

Shame, shambles and stupidity

After clinching a deal with the Maori Party 18 minutes before its announcement, the National Government has pushed through under urgency emissions trading laws that will over the years ahead cost Christchurch families the thick end of $100,000.

Cuts to NMIT are a blow to region

Labour MPs Maryan Street and Brendon Burns are concerned at the effects of financial pressure being brought to bear on the Nelson-Tasman region’s polytechnic.

Press Perspective article School of Music

The School of Music proposal undermines our heritage and fails to deliver for our city, says Christchurch Central MP Brendon Burns

Prime Minister should support tourism sector over Basin super farms

Prime Minister John Key has been challenged to oppose development of 16 giant dairy farms in the fragile Mackenzie Basin after it has emerged that resource consents for the farms have already been granted without public notification.

Sad day for local radio in Christchurch

The axing of the final local programme components of Newstalk ZB Christchurch marks a sad day for radio broadcasting, says Christchurch Central MP and Labour Broadcasting spokesperson Brendon Burns.

TVNZ now an official cash cow, not a broadcaster

The bill abolishing the Television New Zealand charter is the latest step by the Government toward making TVNZ a cash cow and ending any requirement to behave as a state broadcaster, says Labour’s broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns.